a few questions about my new car

[tips000]

ok so i just got this car and i was wondering about a few things... this is the first time i have dealt with turbo and AWD...

1. should i get a transmission cooler (automatic)?
they are fairl cheap and it seems like a good investment or is there a stock one that is great already

2. the car stalls on cold start and seems to idle a little rough?
what can i do that is simple to fix it? i set the idle screw higher and it threw a code at me... what is the procedure for resetting this to where it should be?
could the stalling be due to the larger 16g turbo?

3. the blow off valve is aftermarket and has a bolt on top to adjust it and one way says softer and one way says harder... it was very loose when i touched it.... i turned it a little twords the harder side because i thought it might tighten.... where should the blow off be set?

4. what else can i do as a little preventative maintenince to keep the car healthier?

 

[jtroy917]

im not all knowing, but i can help you out with #1 & #3...
id say #1 would be a pretty good idea...only seeing how i had my 3000gt auto tranny melt together....only giving me 3rd gear... it was crazy... so, yea.. a tranny cooler would be a nice investment. imo.

and for #3 hard will add more load on the spring, enabling the valve to hold more boost. The issue with that is; being too stiff wouldn't open the valve properly at low boost which makes a "flutter"(correct me if im wrong).
Too much spring tension would eventually lead to surge in the compressor of turbo, which will render your bearings useless in little time. normally you want it soft enough to give it a healthy boost release, but stiff enough so it will sustain your desired boost..without the flutter..

 

[tips000]

should the blow off valve be heard as like a pshh sound or not make any noise? should i be able to turn the bolt with my fingers easily?

 

[96awd]

ok so i just got this car and i was wondering about a few things... this is the first time i have dealt with turbo and AWD...

1. should i get a transmission cooler (automatic)?
they are fairl cheap and it seems like a good investment or is there a stock one that is great already

2. the car stalls on cold start and seems to idle a little rough?
what can i do that is simple to fix it? i set the idle screw higher and it threw a code at me... what is the procedure for resetting this to where it should be?
could the stalling be due to the larger 16g turbo?

3. the blow off valve is aftermarket and has a bolt on top to adjust it and one way says softer and one way says harder... it was very loose when i touched it.... i turned it a little twords the harder side because i thought it might tighten.... where should the blow off be set?

4. what else can i do as a little preventative maintenince to keep the car healthier?

1: No, unless you're ungodly built and driving the poop out of it.

2: Check plugs, wires, maybe a tuning issue since you have a bigger turbo.

3: it's an auto. You won't hear the BOV when going through the gears until you let off the gas peddle while in boost of course.

4: leave it stock. Every car needs maintenance done. It's just a way of owning a vehicle, especiallly a DSM.

 

[jtroy917]

should the blow off valve be heard as like a pshh sound or not make any noise? should i be able to turn the bolt with my fingers easily?

id probably invest in a new bov... all the bovs ive messed with needed a little more than twist of the fingers...

 

[gixrman]

First of check the color of the tranny fluid, it should be red and not smell burnt. If its dark brown, change it, and at least then you know it condition. Unless your running at track meets or drag racing alot a cooler isn't really needed were you live. As far as the stalling goes, you need to do a boost leak test and check the condition of your TB. Change the plugs, wires unless you know there new.
Whos BOV is it? Get the manufactures info for adjustments.

 

[razrman8]

Oil cooler
-You will be alright not getting an oil cooler. Being an automatic, you do not have the advantage to run your transmission/RPMS to whatever you want without it shifting. So it should not be getting extremely warm at all.

Stalling On Start
-As suggested above by 96awd, get a new set of plugs in there.(this would fall into your maintenance category) Especially if you do not know when the last time they were replaced. I do not thing that your issue is because of the turbo. Not to say it could not be. I am running a EvoIII 16g and I do not have stalling problems when starting it. Being your new car, you probably have not done a boost leak test on the car yet either. A boost leak will and can cause a rough idle.

-What screw did you adjust? If you went adjusting the BISS screw, you should not have went doing that until you checked to see if everything else is spoken for. If you adjust the BISS screw to much, then you will get a code for it, for the motor that controls your idle is working to hard to keep your idle right.

Blow-Off Valve
-As far as what sound a BOV should make, there are way to many variations of sounds that a BOV can make. Different BOV's make different sounds. But againt, being an automatic, you might not be able to hear it alot. The adjustment screw that you are referring to on the top in indeed for harder and softer settings. But it should also have a nut on the screw that adjust it to keep it from moving. The nut is pictured below. Also, be sure that you are recirculating your BOV, unless you are running GM MAF or speed desity this is a must. It can cause your car to stall.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/50007640@N06/5477101456/" title="bov by keenanwillis, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5477101456_232429c0b8.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="bov" /></a>

Maintenance
Maintenance such as spark plugs, wires, belts, fluids, etc. are all a must if you want to keep your DSM in good operating condition. Here is a whole section on maintenance: Maintenance & Repairs - DSM Forums